James p



(No Mdel.)

J. F. TRAVIS 85 W. H. FREANEY.

FRIGTION GLUTGH FOR DROP LIGHTS.

No. 291,816. Patented Ja.11.8, 1884.

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WITNESSES W JA-f/WM tl/Nrrnn ra'ras ATENT rrics.

JAMES TRAVIS AND VILLIAM H. FREANEY, OF NEV YORK, ll. Y.

FRICTION-CLUTCH SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 291,816, dated January 8, 1884.

Application filed August 25, 1383. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMEs F. TRl-U'ls and WILLLIM H. FREANEY, both oitizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Friction- C'lutches for Drop-Lights, of which the following` is a specificatiou. v

Our invention relates to that class of clutches in which wedge-shaped spring-impelled clamps are arranged in a suitable support to act on a sliding gasway, an adjusting-screw scrving,` to regulate the position of the clamps; and it consists in a certain novel construction of the clamps, and in the combination therewith of anti-friction rollers, as hereinafter fully described and claimed, the whole being illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, in which- Figure l shows our clutch partly in side view and partly in longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof. Fig'. 3 is a perspective view of one of the clamps detached. Fig. l is an end view thereof. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line x x, Fig. l.

Similar letters indicate corresponding' parts.

The letter A designates a frame, forming` a support for wed'ge-shaped clamps B-two or more in number-between which extends a sliding` gasway, O.

D indicates an adjusting-screw, pussing up- 'ward through the lower part of the frame, to

impinge against the lower ends of the clamps, so that by raising` or lowering` this screw the pressure of the clamps on the gasway can be regulated according' to the weight to be sustained. Said adjusting'screw I) is tubular, thus allowing` the passage of the gasway O throughit, and above the clamps B is arranged an impelling-spring', E, tending to force them downward. This spring, however, may, if desired, be omitted, since the clamps have a tendency to move downward by gravity. Each of the clamps B is provided with a longitudin'al recess, G, in the acting surface thereof, into which recess is fitted a packing, H, of felt .or other suitable material, so that by the sides of the recess the packing is held against lateral displacement. The bottom of the recess G is roughened, as by indentations 8, Figx 3, to

prevent the packing` H from shifting longitudiually when the gasway is moved upward or downward, and in the body of each wedge are formed longitudinal Channels I I, through which eXtends a cord, J, or the like, which encompasses the end portions of the packing, and thus serves to fasten it permanently in position. Opposite to the channels I I each wedge is provided with grooves K in the opposite ends, into which grooves the cord J, together with the end portions of the packing, is sunken, to afford a superior hold to the cord.

It will be noticed that by the arrangement of the packing` H it can be readily taken off from the clamps, so that it may be renewed when worn without affecting the other parts.

In the sides of the frame A are arranged rollers LIJ, which form the bearings for the clamps or wedges, respectively, and serve to relieve the wedges of friction, so that they are not liable to bind in the frame. In the example shown the frame A tapers downwardly; but when the anti-friction rollers L are used it may be straight, due to the fact that the rollers alone form the bearings for the wedges. Said anti-frictiou rollers L are mounted on axial spindles N, which engage with cross-bars O, forming` guards to prevent the wedges C from leaving the frame, so that the spindles answer the additional purpose of holding` such bars in position.

Ve are aware that it is not broadly new to arrange wedge-shaped clamps, lined with felt or other packing` material, in a support to act on a sliding,` gasway or tube, the clamps being,` adjustable vertioally by a set-screw; and also that clamps arrang'ed iu a support to act on a sliding gasway or tube have been provided with inclined planes on their back, having teeth engaging toothed wheels j ournaled in the support. Such features, therefore, are not claimed.

V'hat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The we'dge-shaped clamps, each having a lougitudinal recess in the acting surface and longitudinal channels in the body thereof, and having a packing, of felt or other suitable material, in such recess, fastcned by acord or the IEJO like, passing` through the Channels, in combinaton With the supporting-fralne and the adjusting-screw.

2. The Wedge-shaped clanips, each having alongitudinal recess in the aeting surface, 1ongitndnal Channels in the body, and grooves in the ends thereofland having a paeking7 of felt or other suitable material, in the l'ecess, fastened by cords which extend through the Channels and together with the end portons of the pack ing sink into the grooves, in combination With the snpporting-fi'aine and the adjustingscrew.

3. rDhe combination of the frame, the wedgeshaped elamps thei'ein, the two cross-bars arranged outside the frame, and the friction-rolh ersjournaled to the opposite ends of the crossbars, and projecting into the frame to form the bearings for the elainps, substantially as described.

In testilnony whei'eof we have hereunto set 0111' hands and seals in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. TRAVIS. [L. s.]

\VILLIAM H. FRENEY. [L. s.] fitnessesz (nns. VAHLEns,

TILLIAM MILLER. 

